Hands-On With Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5

Each year, we’re accustomed to Samsung launching a Galaxy S flagship at the beginning of the year and then a Galaxy Note flagship towards the end of the year. 2015 has proven a little different throughout the whole of the smartphone industry, and the earlier launch of the Galaxy Note 5 is no exception. Marking the biggest change in the Galaxy Note line since 2013’s Galaxy Note 3, the Galaxy Note 5 takes after the Galaxy S6 from earlier this year. Samsung have done away with the faux-leather backing from previous models and instead we’re left with an elegant glass and metal design, along with some neat tweaks here and there.

We were lucky enough to be in attendance during Samsung’s latest Unpacked event in New York, and we’ve got to spend a little time with the Galaxy Note 5. You can take a look at the photos down below if you just can’t wait, but here our some first thoughts on the device. The Galaxy Note 5 feels a lot like the Galaxy S6 does, but there’s a subtle curve around the back, close to the sides of the device which Samsung says makes the new Note a little easier to hold in one hand. Bezels have been reduced quite a bit since the Galaxy Note 4, and compared to that device, this is quite the departure. The more elegant design with a glass and metal finish to it looks classy and fresh, the outside of the Galaxy Note now finally matches up to what’s on the inside. In all of its different finishes, the Galaxy Note 5 is a looker, but the in-hand feel is where it’s most different, it’s smooth to the touch and with that curve around the back of the device it is genuinely a work of art.

Under the hood is the same Exynos 7420 used in the Galaxy S6, but there’s now 4GB of RAM to keep things chugging along, and while there’s no removable battery or expandable storage this time around, the S-Pen now has a click button that’s an awful lot of fun to mess around with. Those looking for more can take a look in the gallery below.